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Tag Archives: hydraulic fracturing
Our 10 Most Popular Podcasts of 2014
Want to know what nanomanufacturing is? The connection between fracking and new oil pipelines? How much those F-35 Joint Strike Fighters will ultimately cost? Listen to our 10 most downloaded podcasts of 2014 to help understand some of the major … Continue reading
Image December 19, 2014 Tagged airline industry, airline pilot, aviation, bitcoin, bitcoins, border patrol, customer service, DOD, duplication, end of year, F-35, F35, federal, federal agencies, federal agency, forest service, fracking, fragmentation, health care costs, hydraulic fracturing, joint strike fighter, JSF, Mt Gox, new year, oil pipeline, overlap, pilot shortage, pipeline safety, podcast, stolen identities, tax dollars, tax fraud, tax refunds, taxes, taxpayer, top 10, transparency, virtual currency, weapons systems 1 Comment
Podcast on Oil and Gas Transportation and Infrastructure Issues
Technology advancements, such as hydraulic fracturing, have greatly increased U.S. production of oil and natural gas. This increase poses challenges for oil and gas transportation infrastructure, such as pipeline and rail. Hear our podcast with Frank Rusco, a director in … Continue reading


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Buttermilk Scones
Adapted from 'Sweet Old-Fashion Favourites' by Women's Weekly
3 cups self raising flour
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp icing sugar mixture
60g butter
1 3/4 cups buttermilk
Preheat oven to 230-240oC. Grease a 23 cm square slab cake pan (can also just use any rectangle pan)
Sift dry ingredients into large bowl, rub in butter. Stir enough buttermilk to mix to a soft sticky dough.
Turn dough onto a floured surface, knead until smooth. (Note: don't add too much flour whilst kneading or the scones will be dry - trick is sprinkle flour onto the dough to stop it sticking to the surface. The middle should be still sticky but should hold together.)
Press/roll dough out to 2 cm thickness and cut into 5.5 cm rounds.
Place rounds in the prepared pan; bake for about 15-20 mins until tops are golden brown.
Serve with jam and whipped double cream (or whatever condiments tickle your fancy... nutella perhaps? ;) )
Bon Appétit ♥

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Today is Friday, Jan. 12, the 12th day of 2007 with 353 to follow.
The moon is waning. The morning stars are Mars, Jupiter and Saturn. The evening stars are Venus, Mercury, Uranus and Neptune.
Those born on this date are under the sign of Capricorn. They include British statesman Edmund Burke in 1729; American patriot John Hancock in 1737; painter John Singer Sargent in 1856; novelist Jack London in 1876; World War II Nazi leader Hermann Goering in 1893; western singer/actor Tex Ritter in 1905; champion heavyweight boxer Joe Frazier in 1944 (age 63); radio personalities Rush Limbaugh in 1951 (age 56) and Howard Stern in 1954 (age 53); actress Kirstie Alley in 1951 (age 56); and Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos in 1964 (age 43).
On this date in history:
In 1828, boundary disputes were settled between the United States and Mexico.
In 1932, Ophelia Wyatt Caraway, a Democrat from Arkansas, became the first woman to be elected to the U.S. Senate.
In 1943, the U.S. wartime Office of Price Administration said standard frankfurters would be replaced during World War II by "Victory Sausages" consisting of a mixture of meat and soy meal.
In 1971, a U.S. grand jury indicted the Rev. Philip Berrigan and five other people, including a nun and two priests, on charges of plotting to kidnap presidential adviser Henry Kissinger.
In 1976, the U.N. Security Council voted 11-1 to seat the Palestine Liberation Organization for its debate on the Middle East. The United States cast the only dissenting vote.
In 1987, Britain's 22-year-old Prince Edward caused a stir by resigning from his Royal Marines training course.
In 1990, Salvadoran President Alfredo Cristiani named eight soldiers, including chief of the military academy, as suspects in the November 1989 slayings of six Jesuit priests.
In 1994, U.S. President Bill Clinton asked Attorney General Janet Reno to appoint an independent counsel to investigate the Whitewater land deal affair that involved him and the first lady.
In 1995, U.S. President Bill Clinton and congressional leaders agreed on a bailout package that would give Mexico as much as $40 billion in loan guarantees. After Congress filed to vote quickly on the deal, Clinton invoked his emergency authority to lend Mexico $20 billion.
In 2001, scientists in Oregon announced the birth of the first genetically engineered primate. The rhesus monkey had a jellyfish gene that caused jellyfish to glow; however, the monkey did not glow.
In 2003, as losses mounted, Steve Case, founder of America Online, announced he was resigning as AOL chairman.
Also in 2003, Maurice Gibb, 53, one of three singing brothers who made up the Bee Gees, died of complications from an intestinal blockage.
In 2004, former U.S. Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill, in a harshly critical new book, likened U.S. President George Bush in a Cabinet meeting to a "blind man in a roomful of deaf people."
In 2005, The Southern California death toll from rain, flood and mudslides rose to 19.
Also in 2005, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that an alien can be deported to a country without the advance consent of that country's government.
And, aftershocks continued to hit northwestern Indonesia and the Indian Ocean basin more than two weeks after a giant earthquake struck the area.
In 2006, around 350 people were crushed to death by a stampeding crowd at the entrance to Jamarat Bridge in Mina, Saudi Arabia, during an annual pilgrimage to Mecca.
A thought for the day: It was Otto von Bismarck who said, "Laws are like sausages, it is better not to see them being made."


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No one would ever accuse X Factor judge Simon Cowell of lacking confidence, but the reality show mogul believes without a doubt that one of his protégés in the Groups category will win this season of the singing competition.
"The groups are a million times better than last year," Cowell said on a conference call Tuesday. "Some of them I could really, really see having a big future outside this competition."
That's not to say they won't face stiff competition. Cowell believes Britney Spears has the strongest group overall (the Teens), and says Jennel Garcia, in Demi Lovato's Young Adult category, also has a shot. But as for L.A. Reid with the Over-25s? "No chance whatsoever," Cowell said.
The X Factor: Who else is going to the live shows?
The X Factor moves into the live rounds with a two-hour episode Wednesday, when each of the top 16 contestants will perform. It will be followed by an hourlong episode Thursday, when certain contestants will be designated "safe" at the start of the show. The ones who aren't will compete in a series of sing-offs, according to Cowell, and some will be eliminated. There's no guarantee that the remaining contestants will be evenly distributed among the four judges, Cowell said. Beginning next week, the audience will vote to determine who stays in the competition.
Wednesday's show will also mark the introduction of new hosts Khloe Kardashian and Mario Lopez. Asked about the decision to have two hosts, Cowell quipped, "We're going to find out very soon whether it was a good idea or a terrible idea." But he said he hopes they take more of an active role in the competition than last season's host, Steve Jones, did.
"He didn't seem to have an opinion on any of the performances, and I think what's important with hosts is they're allowed to pitch in as well as the judges," Cowell said. "I see a host's role to be a fan as well as a host. ... They're there to have opinions."
Though Lopez is a veteran TV personality, it will be the first such gig for Kardashian — but Cowell isn't worried. "I thinks she's had her doubters, and I think she wants to prove anyone who's doubted her that she's capable of doing the job," he said. "She really has got a fun personality, and I think she gets what her role is. I think she's there to be a voice for the contestants and to have fun with it."
As for the new judges this season, Spears and Lovato, Cowell says he's pleased with the way both have handled their new roles thus far. "I think she's been a lot better than everybody thought," he said of Spears, but admitted "I don't know what she's going to be like on a live show. It's a very, very different setup than the auditions."
He also defended Lovato's decision to cut fan favorite Jillian Jensen in the Judges' Homes round. "I know people were concerned about losing Jillian," he said. "You've got to choose people who can be entertainers. And I kind of admire Demi for making that decision, because she really liked her as a person but she just went with her gut instinct."
Now that the final 16 have been decided, Wednesday will mark the start of the real test — seeing how they respond to the pressure of performing in front of a live audience, and how the audience responds to them. "I think people are going to get blown away by the talent this year," Cowell says. "It's so much better than what we did last year."
The X Factor returns Wednesday at 8/7 on Fox.


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Andale! Tasty Mex take-out in Belmont Market
Since last fall, there's been a hole-in-the-wall (literally!) Mexican take-out joint in the back of the Belmont Market that's been serving up spicy fish tacos, burritos, and veggie delights almost completely under the radar. That's by design, according to owner Saras Pruitt, who chose to keep a low profile while she smoothed out the kinks with her little eatery called Andale!
A Charlottesville native who spent her early years in the Yogaville community of Buckingham County, Pruitt says she wanted to do something like this for years, so she walked away from her job as an insurance broker to make and sell the food she has always liked making at home.
"So far, it's just been word of mouth," says Pruitt of her advertising efforts. "And it's going pretty well."
In about a month or so, she says she plans to take her one-woman show from Monticello Avenue to the Downtown Mall with a mobile cart, and while it's currently cash only inside her Belmont Market location, she'll soon accept credit cards. Right now, hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 11:30am to 4pm.
In addition to beef, shrimp, and fish, Pruitt says she has vegetarian options as well, like BBQ tofu.
"I love this kind of food," she says.
After we had a tasting or two, we can say it shows.Read more on: Andale! mexican restaurant
3 comments
Good luck! Love me some fish tacos!
Did David McNair do an Ed Bradley on this one...a surprise media visit with camera and interrogative reporter? How else would one explain the photo with guacamole stains on front of otherwise alluring tank top?
R.I.P.: Mr. Kenneth
Best fresh burrito and taco intown.
Price is right, too.
You like food? Go there.


text:
SELECT o.order_number,
p.product_name, i.quantity, i.unit
FROM [ order ] o
JOIN order_item i ON o.id = i.order_id
JOIN product p ON p.id = i.product_id
ORDER BY o.order_number
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The Masque Theatre is a community Performing Arts Centre in Kettering. It has a 224 tiered-seat theatre and well equipped dance and drama studios for classes or rehearsals plus a recording studio.
The Masque is based at The Latimer Arts College in Barton Seagrave, Kettering. With its own attractive entrance, box office foyer and bar area a trip to this theatre makes a wonderful night out.
Its location at The Latimer Arts College places The Masque at the heart of the community. The college students benefit from access to a professional theatre and can get involved in all aspects of performance, both on stage and behind the scenes in performance management.
The Masque Theatre is operated in association with the Lighthouse Theatre, Kettering.
The Masque and its studios are available to hire outside of normal college hours. As well as the 224 seat auditorium there are 5 studios of different sizes available to hire. They include mirrored studios perfect for dance or drama for groups or individuals. There is also a dedicated recording studio plus large dressing rooms and changing facilities. Theatre and sound technicians are available for productions. Rooms are also available for meetings and conferences.
If you are interested in hiring the facilities please contact a member of the team on 01536 414141


text:
I consistently send him notes about visits, listing what, if any, tests I'm ordering. Within an hour of one being faxed I always get a return fax from his office, listing the tests that I just said I'm ordering, and asking me to send the results to him when they become available.
I don't know why, but I find this thoroughly irritating. I'm actually quite obsessive about sending letters and tests to referring physicians, and after years of doing so it annoys me that this one still asks. Of course, there's also the (likely) possibility that the letters go to a trained chimpanzee who reads the last paragraph, fills out the results-request form, and faxes it back without the doctor ever seeing it.
Last week, on a quiet morning due to some last-minute cancellations, I sent his office a fax on a non-existent patient saying I was ordering a "serum profactor 7-CoA." To the best of my knowledge there is no such test.
Within 15 minutes we got a note back saying "Mr. Non Existent isn't a patient in our practice. Please send us a copy of his serum profactor 7-CoA result as soon as it becomes available."
I amuse myself.


text:
Courtesy Of Bill Briggs Of RE/MAX Real Estate.
This remarkable residence backs directly onto the River valley and boasts an unprecedented panoramic view while providing the ultimate in privacy. Describing the home as exceptional or amazing is an understatement and listing all the features, upgrades and extras equally challenging but an extensive list is available. This custom built home has over 10,000 sq.ft. of total living area; a 2,500 sq.ft. roof top deck, indoor parking for 8 cars, and to say the residence is completed to the highest standards of workmanship using only the very best of materials and state of the art construction would also be an understatement. This house literally sets the standard for an Executive home. The location offers easy access to U of A, River valley trails, Downtown, shopping, restaurants and community amenities. This special property offers a stunning view, incomparable construction, remarkable finishing. List of chattels and construction info. available. Please visit Realtor's website for additional information.
Residential Detached Single Family
Air Conditioner, Deck, Exercise Room, No Smoking Home, Patio, See Remarks, Insulation-Upgraded
Quad or More Attached, Underground, See Remarks
Alarm/Security System, Dishwasher-Built-In, Dryer, Garage Control, Garage Opener, Refrigerator, Stove-Gas, Washer, See Remarks
Forced Air-1, In Floor Heat System
Stucco, See Remarks, Acrylic Stucco
Golf Nearby, Landscaped, Park/Reserve, Playground Nearby, Private Setting, Public Transportation, River Valley View, River View, Schools, See Remarks
Listing information last updated on September 28th, 2020 at 2:16am MDT.


text:
New York Homes for Elderly Under Scrutiny After Sandy
NEW YORK (AP) - A nursing home and an assisted living facility in New York are under scrutiny after The Associated Press disclosed that hundreds elderly people forced to evacuate by Superstorm Sandy were still sleeping in cramped and sometimes oppressive conditions two months later.
The attorney general sent investigators to a Brooklyn nursing home last week after the AP reported that the facility was swollen to nearly double its licensed capacity.
The nursing home says its visiting evacuees should be back in their original facility in about a week.
Separately, a legal aid group is questioning why residents of an adult home were still being asked to sign over their Social Security checks to cover room and board, even though they have been flooded out since Halloween.
The adult home did not respond to requests for comment.


text:
Surie Maillot
About our materials:
- Our fabric is a high quality, soft two-way stretch Italian lycra.
- Recycled yarn: 78% Recycled Polyamide, 22% Elastane
- Excellent coverage and shape retention.
- Provides 50+ UV protection. Resistant to sun creams, oils and ultrachlorine.
- Fully lined.
- Fast drying.
- All our styles are figure-flattering.
- This style isn't padded.
Ethically made.
About our fit:
- Model is 173cm and wears a size EXTRA SMALL.
- One piece. Small coverage at back.
We are environmentally conscious and locally crafted by a talented team. If you'd like to know more about the materials we use, go to our Sustainability section located at the bottom of the page.
If you need assistance deciding your size or have any questions, please email us at email@example.com
UPS Carbon Neutral Shipping: €10
(Standard) 1-4 business days
(Standard) 1-4 business days
USA & Canada
UPS Carbon Neutral Shipping: €25
(Express Saver) 1-3 business daysUPS Carbon Neutral Shipping: €18
(Expedited) 7-10 business days
Rest of the World**
UPS Carbon Neutral Shipping: €40
(Express Saver) 3-4 business days
*Please note, shipping times are excluding the handling & processing time of up to 48h. Orders of €300+ automatically qualify for free shipping. All our parcels are insured and fully trackable.


text:
The standard for the class.
Sport Utility Vehicles
Editor: New Car Test Drive
$33,455 Base Price MSRP
$48,750 As Tested MSRP
Model Lineup: Ford Expedition XLS 2WD (33,455); XLS 4WD ($36,055); XLT 2WD ($35,505); XLT 4WD ($38,285); Eddie Bauer 2WD ($39,720); Eddie Bauer 4WD ($42,905); Limited 2WD ($41,515); Limited 4WD ($44,700); King Ranch 2WD ($43,155); King Ranch 4WD ($46,340)
Standard Engine: 5.4-liter dohc 24-valve V8
Engine Options: 300-hp 5.4-liter sohc 24-valve V8
Standard Transmission: 4-speed automatic
Transmission Options: 4-speed automatic
Basic Warranty: 3 years/36,000 miles
Assembled In: Wayne, Michigan
Model Tested MSRP: Ford Expedition Eddie Bauer 2WD ($39,720)
Standard Equipment: leather upholstery; front captain's chairs with two tone-leather and 6-way driver power and memory; automatic climate control with rear A/C and auxiliary controls; premium AM/FM/CD/cassette audio; Arizona Beige lower body side cladding and running boards; floor console; overhead console; 11 cup holders; fog lights; privacy glass; Homelink; electrochromic mirror; power outside heated mirrors with memory, security approach lamps and integrated turn signals; power adjustable pedals with memory; illuminated vanity mirrors; tire-pressure monitoring system; fog lamps; aluminum wheels; tilt steering wheel; speed control; second-row bench seat split 40/20/40; third-row 60/40 split-bench seat; power door locks; remote keyless entry; SecuriLock; rear liftgate with flip-up glass access; automatic headlamps; luggage rack; door trim map pockets with cupholders; illuminated entry with automatic dimming
Options As Tested: Safety Canopy ($595); AdvanceTrak w/Roll Stability Control; reverse sensing system ($255); PowerFold third-row seat ($495); power flip-out quarter windows ($125); rear-seat DVD entertainment system ($1,500); navigation system ($1,995); climate-controlled seats ($625) with heated and cooled seats w/6-way power driver and front passenger seats; power moonroof ($860); load-leveling air suspension ($815); heavy-duty trailer tow package ($350)
Standard Safety Equipment: dual-stage front airbags with crash severity sensors, safety belt pretensioners and load-limited retractors, 3-point seatbelts for all seats, universal child safety seat latches; 4-wheel ABS, Brake Assist
Optional Safety Equipment: Safety Canopy side curtain airbag system, AdvanceTrac electronic stability control with Roll Stability control, tire pressure monitor, rear sonar park assistDestination Charge: $820
Expedition is smooth, stable and refined. The Expedition benefits from a four-wheel-independent suspension, an unusually sophisticated design for this class, which gives it a smooth ride and responsive handling. Expedition also benefits from Ford's 5.4-liter V8 featuring three valves per cylinder and variable valve timing, which produces 300 horsepower and 365 pound-feet of torque.
What Expedition does best is move large quantities of people and their gear. Its perfectly flat cargo area makes it particularly adept at hauling. The available PowerFold third-row seat folds perfectly flat with the press of a button. Open the seat back up, and Expedition can carry up to eight passengers. And Ford hasn't forgotten the special needs of children. The second row features CenterSlide, a small center seat that slides forward to give parents in the front seat access to a child in a safety seat. A rear-seat DVD system is available for entertainment. And the Reverse Sensing System can alert the driver as the Expedition is backed toward an object such as a parked car, a short pole, or a child on a tricycle. When properly equipped, the Expedition is rated to tow up to 8900 pounds. All of this makes the Expedition a good choice for families with a boat or horse.
The popular Eddie Bauer model best exemplifies the Expedition with its luxurious and inviting interior and feature details that make for a more comfortable and convenient ride. Limited and King Ranch models feature special trim colors and come loaded with luxury features.
The 2006 Ford Expedition is offered in five trim levels: XLS, XLT, Eddie Bauer, Limited, and King Ranch. Each of these is available with rear-wheel drive (2WD) or four-wheel drive (4WD).
All are powered by a 5.4-liter overhead-cam V8 with variable valve timing and three valves per cylinder. New last year, this engine develops 300 horsepower and 365 pound-feet of torque. The only available transmission is a four-speed automatic.
XLS ($33,455) and XLS 4WD ($36,055) are the value-conscious models. They come well equipped, but offer little in the way of options. Standard features on XLS include four-wheel-disc brakes with ABS, air conditioning, tilt steering column, cruise control, privacy glass, fold-away power mirrors with approach lamps, power locks with remote keyless entry and SecuriLock security system, automatic headlamps, AM/FM/CD stereo, a Class III trailer hitch with a four-pin connector, and 17-inch steel wheels. Seats are three cloth-covered benches: split 60/40 in the first row with six-way power for the driver; split 40/20/40 in the second row to allow the CenterSlide feature; and split 60/40 in the third row.
XLT ($35,505) and XLT 4WD ($38,285) add auxiliary rear air conditioning and heat controls, overhead console with storage, auto-dimming rearview mirror, illuminated vanity mirrors, color-keyed door handles, the tire-pressure monitoring system, fog lamps, running boards, and aluminum wheels. Many more options are available on XLT than XLS. An appearance package called XLT Sport ($860) adds Dark Shadow Grey exterior cladding and wheel-lip moldings, high-gloss black tubular step bars, and a two-tone grille treatment. An Off-Road Package ($320) is available for XLT 4WD comprising skid plates and specially tuned shock absorbers,
Eddie Bauer 2WD ($39,720) and 4WD ($42,905) add automatic climate control, leather captain's chairs with power and memory for the driver and manual lumbar support on both sides, power adjustable pedals with memory, power heated exterior mirrors with turn signals and approach lamps, leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio and climate controls, floor, message center, audiophile stereo with an in-dash six-CD changer, and a keypad for the keyless entry system. Eddie Bauer models are distinguished by machined aluminum wheels, Pueblo Gold running boards and a generous helping of Pueblo Gold trim.
Limited 2WD ($41,515) and 4WD ($44,700) differ from the Eddie Bauer primarily in color scheme, but add eight-way power and memory for the front seats. Upholstery is monochromatic leather; complex-reflector headlamps are blacked out; wheel lips, cladding, and mirrors are body color; and the wheels, exhaust tip, and roof rails are chromed.
King Ranch 2WD ($43,155) and 4WD ($46,340) add unique machined aluminum wheels, Pueblo Gold body cladding and step bars, a chrome-tipped exhaust, and the PowerFold third-row seat. The interior is trimmed in woodgrain and Castano leather, and the King Ranch logo is generously applied inside and out.
Safety for all models is enhanced by Expedition's big, rigid frame and low front bumper. Anti-lock brakes (ABS) come standard on all models and can help the driver maintain steering control when standing on the brakes. Dual-stage front airbags are standard, of course.
Safety features that are optional on some models include the Safety Canopy air curtain system ($595), designed to offer head protection for first- and second-row passengers in the event of a rollover or side impact. The Reverse Sensing System ($255) can alert the driver as the Expedition is backed toward an object such as a parked car, a short pole, or a child on a tricycle. AdvanceTrac with Roll Stability Control ($595), Ford's electronic stability control system, monitors traction at all wheels, plus the rate of change of body lean, and automatically cuts power or selectively applies one or more wheel brakes to correct a skid or prevent a rollover. We strongly recommend a
Walk Around
The Ford Expedition is larger than the Chevy Tahoe, but smaller than the Suburban. It's slightly larger than the Toyota Sequoia and about the same size as the Nissan Armada. All of them are considerably larger than the Dodge Durango.
The Expedition has a towering presence, thanks to the raised center section of its sloped-down hood. Big 17-inch wheels enhance its bold look. Bumpers are smoothly integrated into the overall design. Expedition's slab sides, forward-slanting C-pillar, and relatively simple front-end treatment all contribute to its unmistakable Ford identity.
Door handles are the full-grip variety, making them easier for occupants to grab, whether left- or right-handed, gloved or not gloved. Expedition's low bumper beams are designed to prevent smaller cars from sliding beneath its frame in an accident.
An attractive cabin makes the Ford Expedition a pleasant place to be on long trips. Shapes are round, and controls are hefty for an easy grip. This is particularly true of the upper-level models such as the Eddie Bauer and Limited. The Eddie Bauer Expedition features handsome leather trim that's warm and friendly with metallic satin finish trim on the rings that surround vents and door handles. The lighter upholstery colors give the Expedition a lighter, more car-like air. Lower-level models are nice, too, with padded door trim in nicely contrasting materials that looks and feels good.
Storage space is generous, a great feature for a big family vehicle. The roomy pockets in all four doors have space for a 20-ounce water bottle. The center console (that comes in most models) can hold a small laptop computer. The console has a slot to hold pens and a Palm Pilot or other PDAs. Its lid is comfortably padded, and feels nice to the touch even on the XLT, where it's covered in faux leather.
The available power-operated (PowerFold) third-row seats fold flat with the press of a button. The third-row seat is split 60/40. Push one button on the wall of the cargo area, and one side powers down. Hold down the other button, and the other side powers down. The power-down buttons are convenient. The third row disappears into the floor, leaving a perfectly flat cargo area. It is an impressive piece of engineering to watch as the seat folds down and flaps gracefully flop into place to cover the gap between the cargo floor and hinged seats.
The power third-row seat is invaluable when changing roles from people hauler to a cargo hauler and back again with just a press of a button. Expedition's third row is comfortable enough for a couple of full-size adults. When no one is seated back there, the third-row headrests can be pushed down flush with the seatbacks, greatly improving the driver's rearward visibility.
With the seats folded down, the cargo floor is perfectly flat, in contrast to many SUVs, which have a slanting platform. The Expedition's flat floor, combined with the flaps that cover the gap where the seats hinge, makes it easy to slide objects in and out. Another nice feature is the window in the liftgate that opens so you can quickly load or unload stuff without opening the whole liftgate.
The second-row bench seat splits roughly into thirds. The middle section can be moved forward 11 inches, almost abutting it to the back of the front center console. Ford calls this feature CenterSlide, and it gives front-seat parents easier access to a small child in a safety seat. The small center seatback can also be folded down and used as a work surface for two people in back. The two outboard second-row seats fold easily forward for access to the third-row seat.
The Reverse Sensing System is available as a stand-alone option for 2006. It's a great feature, particularly on large SUVs, whose rearward blind spot can be three times as large as a sedan's. A tone alerts the driver to objects behind the vehicle whenever it's shifted in reverse. Don't depend on it, though, it's an aid and is not designed to absolve drivers of the responsibility of looking where they're going.
Some of Expedition's interior systems are programmable, and the programming is relatively easy. Tired of fighting those automatic locks? You can turn off the auto-locking feature. You can set whether the seat automatically moves back when you shut off the ignition. You can decide whether you want the right mirror to automatically tilt down when reverse is selected.
The optional navigation system has a nice bright screen. It works well, but like all navigation systems, takes some time to master.
Driving Impressions
The Ford Expedition is the standard bearer for the class for several reasons. Its sharp steering, and smooth, robust acceleration make it easy and enjoyable to drive.
Ford's 5.4-liter V8 delivers strong power, excellent fuel efficiency and low emissions. This Triton V8 is a modern, sophisticated engine with single overhead camshafts and three valves per cylinder in aluminum heads. Rated at 300 horsepower and 365 pound-feet of torque. Two-wheel-drive models are rated to tow up to 8,900 pounds (8,600 with 4WD). Fuel economy is 14/19 mpg City/Highway (14/18 with 4WD).
Ride quality is an important consideration for a family vehicle and the Expedition offers a good ride for the most part, even over broken pavement. Potholes and rough pavement are heard more than felt. It is not a magic carpet ride, though, and it's important to remember that the Expedition is a full-size truck. On the other hand, the Expedition provides the driver with feedback rather than isolation. The Expedition benefits from an independent rear suspension, almost unheard-of in a full-size truck. (The Lincoln Navigator is the only other example that comes to mind.) Though more expensive, the independent rear suspension offers better handling and a smoother ride than the live rear axle commonly used on trucks and full-size SUVs.
On the highway, the Expedition inspires confidence. It's stable at high speeds. We were conversing in a relaxed manner at 90-100 mph in an Eddie Bauer while whistling around a high-speed oval at Ford's Michigan proving grounds. When the road is windy, the Expedition offers sharp steering response. Small inputs to the steering wheel are answered immediately by its car-like rack-and-pinion steering.
The four-wheel disc brakes are smooth and responsive. The Expedition comes standard with ABS and Brake Assist. Brake Assist is designed to recognize a panic-braking situation and maintain full braking force even if the driver mistakenly relaxes pressure on the brake pedal.
Ford Expedition remains a benchmark against a strong field of full-size SUVs. The Expedition features a smooth ride for passengers and responsive handling for the driver. It can haul a big load of cargo on its flat cargo floor and it can tow heavy trailers. Clever features such as the power folding third row and the independent rear suspension make it enjoyable to own.
Michelle Krebs filed the original report from Detroit. New Car Test Drive editor Mitch McCullough contributed to this report.
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I've finally solved the Zen conundrum of "what is the sound of one hand clapping?" And I owe this revelation to my increasing understanding about what is happening in the financial markets of the world and why. The trouble is when you play with funny money, it can suddenly and without warning, turn serious… and if I'd paid more attention in my history lessons, I would have known this.
In the so-called developed nations like those in the Europe and the US, we have been playing with funny money (known as 'fiat currency') for some time. Fiat currency has a notional value… in other words, its value is what people decide that it is. In contradistinction, many other nations still have currencies which are backed with gold, and so they're not so keen to take our funny money or to back it as an investment.
Fiat money is just really numbers on a computer screen which is why Ireland has decided not pay us back, and Iceland is headed in a similar direction.
So this paralyis in the state of our markets is partly being caused by the fact that our currency is becoming more worthless by the day. But that's only part of the story. It takes two hands to make the sound of one hand clapping. There is a further factor to global financial Armegeddon that we have to bear in mind, and when you understand this, a lot starts to make sense ~ such as why the European Central Bank has been reluctant to declare itself as lender of last resort. It's nothing to do with the Germans' memories about inflation, although that hasn't helped.
As I read in last week's helpful Archdruid Report:
"Nobody is willing to do the one thing that will fix the problem—that is, admit that debts that can't be paid will, in fact, not be paid and allow the banks that unwisely lent money to deadbeat nations to go under, as capitalist economic theory says they should. I wish more people remembered what happened the last time European governments put allegiance to a global financial regime ahead of the needs of their own people; that was in the wake of the 1929 stock market crash, for those who need a reminder."
But actually, if the Archdruid looks back much further than 1929, he will see that this habit of countries to put the needs of a global financial regime ahead of the needs of their own people has been going on much longer than we may think, and it was the cause of the American Revolution, the French Revolution and the Russian Revolution.
French Revolution by Delacroix
We saw a glaring example of this deliberate policy only recently when Chancellor George Osbourne oversaw the printing of £75 billion (known as 'quantative easing') and then handed the whole wadge over to prop up the banks of Mr Rothschild and Mr Morgan and Mr Warburg, rather than putting it into the economy to service growth.
So why do our leaders not learn from history? Well, the truth is, they do. It's us that don't.
You only have to look at the current Occupy Wall Street movement to realise the hidden hand in all revolutions. In this case, it's the 'financial alchemist' George Soros, currently worth US $22 billion who is backing the OWS 'revolution'. Soros is known as "the Man Who Broke the Bank of England" because of the US$1 billion in profits he made from the 1992 Black Wednesday UK currency crisis. I wonder how he knew?
Ask any OWS spokesman what their demands are, and the answer is a passively delivered series of mushy platitudes tinged with socialist opium dreams and totally unachievable aims … and that's the point.
A "Principles of Solidarity" statement accepted by the protest's general assembly on Sept. 23 – six days after protesters set up camp near Wall Street — promised that "demands will follow."
Just over a week later, the demands working group – one of more than 80 groups formed to tackle topics like alternative currencies, political and electoral reform, trade justice and tactics – began trying to come up with some specific aims.
From the beginning, coming up with demands capable of winning the support of a vast majority of the protesters proved problematic. Minutes of the group's meetings over the past month and a half chronicle the discord that the effort has generated. From MSN News
The truth is, it's not the ordinary people who cause revolutions… they are 'led from behind', as we saw from the travels of Hillary Clinton earlier in the year, through the Middle East and north Africa, ahead of the so-called Arab Spring.
I was quite amused when watching the storming of Gadaffi's stronghold in Tripoli on the BBC News to hear an Evening Standard reporter, who obviously hadn't been briefed, saying how the British SAS and Qatar special forces had led the raid. The interview with him was quickly terminated and no mention of it was ever made again.
Revolution is a deliberate mechanism which has been operated by the global elite for hundreds of years… and possibly longer … and they always use the same M.O.
1. Flood the economy of a country with credit
2. Gradually begin to hike up the interest rates
3. This creates bankruptcy, of people and governments, which
4. Goes on to create turmoil and chaos, so that in the end
5. The people rise up to demand a new world order and this allows…
6. The guys holding the purse strings to step out of the shadows with their 'safe pair of hands'.
This is the sound of one hand clapping…. because no hand acts in isolation of the other, although they try to dupe us otherwise, in this case, by leading us to believe that we are to blame for a state of economic collapse. But as you can see from the above list, it has been deliberately engineered… partly by the policy of lending to people who could never pay back, otherwise known as the 'sub-prime mortgages scandal'. That was Step 1A.
But Step 1B is what's making the economies of whole countries spin out of control and this has been achieved by the deliberate policy of lending to whole governments. Then by hiking up the interest rates, governments and the countries they govern are brought to their knees, so that the money lenders can move their own men into positions of power. That's why Goldman Sachs people are now in key positions in the White House, and why unelected Eurobank technocrat placemen have just been moved into position in countries like Greece (the cradle of democracy) and Italy. In Greece, Papandreou bravely tried to call a referendum, to help his people get themselves out of this stranglehold. But he was quickly and very heavily leant on. These countries were set up to fail, in other words, and it will be our turn next for an unelected placeman to replace David Cameron et al… unless he dances to the piper's tune.
Recently, this MO has been supported by using neurolinguistic programming (NLP) language in the media to control and manipulate our thoughts. For those who have the ears to hear, David Cameron revealed a hidden agenda in his speech to bankers at the Lord Mayor's banquet, last week, and which ended up being the main soundbite on news channels.
"We have to get a grip on growth."
What's wrong with that innocent-sounding phrase, you might ask? Well, first of all, I need to explain a little about what NLP is and how it works.
NLP is an alternative form of psychotherapy which is based on language and communication and which has the aim of supporting self and personal change. It was originally developed by a linguist, John Grindler, and a mathematician, Richard Bandler, in the 1970s, when they aimed to determine patterns between behaviour and communication. Their work was based on that of three successful and popular psychotherapists – Virginia Satir, Fritz Perls and Milton H. Erickson.
Knowing that our bodies listen to our thoughts, and that many illnesses have been attributed to how we think, the over-riding idea with NLP is to reprogramme how we think with techniques which include terms known as anchoring, reframing, rapport and Swish and may also involve forms of hypnosis.
This makes it a very useful therapy for life coaches and for business development. It is also quite commonly used to treat addictions and phobias and for personal development, for relationships and to enhance sports performance.
However, politicians and other opinion formers are also using 'reframing' and 'anchoring' to change our thinking with NLP techniques and here's how they work.
Reframing means creating a new way to look at an old idea, for example, in the use of the word 'credit'. What previous generations called 'debt' and therefore 'a bad thing', we were taught to call 'credit' which had more positive associations (after all, which of us does not want to gain credit?) Therefore, we were more able and willing to accrue 'credit', now that it was no longer that nasty old debt.
Anchoring is a technique where an association is created between two separate elements where none existed before. Anchors are subtle and powerful, especially when they are attached to a strong emotion. The stronger the emotion, the stronger the anchor. People subconsciously form some type of anchor in everyday life. For instance, you may hear a favourite old song playing on the radio. As you listen to it, your mind is transported back to the very first time you heard it and what it meant to you then. David Cameron's favourite anchor word seems to be 'grip'.
We first started hearing David Cameron's use of his new 'grip' anchor word in the televised pre-election debates last year. Mr Cameron stood on the podium then with Gordon Brown and Nick Clegg, and used the word 'grip' several times in describing how would approach the 'credit crisis', given the chance. But he used the word 'grip' in an unusual context. He said: "We must grip it," rather than 'get a grip on it".
However, the word 'grip' went down well because it gave the impression of someone who was going to grab hold of a problem which seemed to be running away with us like so much quicksilver, and solve it.
So the word 'grip' was duly introduced to support all manner of barely supportable cuts… and thus when he trotted out his 'grip' word at the Lord Mayor's banquet ~ "We have to get a grip on growth" ~ anyone who may have been on the verge of panicking about the seismic tremors emanating from Brussels could instantly feel reassured by the nice, familiar word 'grip'.
But, in this case, is 'grip' the most appropriate word? One would think that 'encouraging growth' or 'supporting growth' or even 'fertilising growth' would work better than 'gripping growth'. If one grips growth, one is strangling growth, one is stifling growth. One could even be intending paralysis of growth.
So either Mr Cameron needs to go back to NLP school, or he has a different agenda to the one he claims. I think the latter, and that he and his soul are in hock to those who really pull the strings and by association, so are we.
The Sacred Sex Rites of Ishtar
Shamanic sexual healing and sex magic
The article above is by the shaman Ishtar Babilu Dingir, who is also the author of The Sacred Sex Rites of Ishtar. It is about sex magic across dimensions that leads to greater self empowerment and creative intelligence, which she has been taught by her guiding spirits, over decades. Ishtar explains, however, that this is not a New Age teaching, but a very old one, and that she is merely reconstituting a practice in which our earlier ancestors were skilled and which they valued highly as a means of spiritual evolution.
In Part I, Ishtar lays the foundation stone for this teaching by showing the ancient artwork, iconography and orally transmitted lore underlying these sacred shamanic sex practices, which seem to have fallen out of favour after the destruction of the Mystery Groves and the Library of Alexandria.
Ishtar uses erotic poetry and engravings from ancient Egypt, Crete, India, Sumer and Babylon to show that sacred sex was part of the Kingship rites, and that the spirits were present in the lovemaking. She also finds evidence for the practice of the Faery Marriage, and what she believes is the original meaning of the Holy Grael which can be traced back to Neanderthals about 45,000 years ago.
Ishtar unravels ancient myths to show that they are really "Trojan horses" of sacred dramas which carry the secret keys of this ancient sex magic teaching. She is also the first to discover the allegorical sub-strata containing the keys to shamanic sex magic in Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, based on alchemy and the Alchemical Marriage. She gives the same treatment to the story of the Woman at the Well in the Gospel of John.
Ishtar also describes how Babylon has been deliberately demonised by who we now call the Zionists and their proxy armies who have, for millennia, been trying to turn it into a pile of rubble. This is because of the power of the sacred geometry created by the Ishtar Gate and the Tower of Babylon, she says, which created the conditions for a portal, or a 'Stargate', into other dimensions.
In Part II of The Sacred Sex Rites of Ishtar, Ishtar shows the metaphysical anatomy of the human being, and then reveals the secret techniques of shamanic sex magic, so that people can try them for themselves.
Although this may seem like quite a complex subject, her past experience as a national newspaper journalist in the UK – Sunday Times, Sunday Express, Mail on Sunday – has given Ishtar the ability to explain some quite dense material in simple everyday language to produce an engaging, page-turner of a book. She also writes with great humour!
To find out more, just click on the book below.


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text: One thing that many enjoy about having a home is sharing it with others at dinner parties, visiting guest, having friends over for a party and other events. But the trouble with a very small space is that you don't have space to have a lot of extra furniture, just the space for the basics. Here is an interesting alternative to spare seating. These are chairs that flatten out so you can paint them as wall art when not in use.


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Media visibility is an effective tool for promoting NMU people and programs. It can foster a positive public image; boost name recognition, which is helpful in recruitment efforts; offer public recognition for newsworthy accomplishments; and show external constituencies what this state-supported institution is doing for its students and the region.
Despite the obvious benefits of publicity, dealing with the media can be intimidating. If a reporter calls for an interview, don't sweat it - make the most of it! Here are some helpful tips:
*The News Bureau is responsible for releasing news items about NMU to the media. The media might contact you directly - to follow up on an NMU news release or to pursue an original story. If the subject matter is negative or controversial, or if for any reason you feel uncomfortable responding, please call Communications & Marketing for assistance in advance at 2720.
*When a reporter contacts you, be courteous and cooperative. Return all calls - even if you don't think you have anything to contribute to the story. And because the media operate on tight deadlines, get back to the reporter as soon as possible.
*Write down the reporter's name and print/broadcast organization before you start the interview.
*Gain a clear understanding of the story's subject matter and angle. If it is in your area of expertise, feel free to respond. If the topic is outside your area of expertise, politely decline and refer to someone else. If the story is based on a wire report or other information source, ask the reporter to fax you a copy for reference.
*If you need time to collect your thoughts or retrieve supporting information, set an agreed-upon time to call back (the sooner the better). Example: "I need to gather some information before the interview. I should have it assembled in 15 minutes. Will it work for you if I call you back at 10:30?" Then, stick to your promise.
*Use extra time to your advantage. Develop two or three key messages you would like to get across during the interview. Jot down likely questions and think of ways to address them while working in those key messages. Feel free to ask colleagues or News Bureau staff for help in anticipating a reporter's questions.
*If the topic warrants, provide the reporter with a fact sheet or other background information before the interview. This is especially helpful for ongoing or complicated matters, financial items and construction projects. Many reporters do not have time to research a story. Providing brief, relevant material for them to review before the interview.
*Check the interview environment (office, conference room) to make sure fans, air conditioners or phones will not be a noisy disruption.
*The interview starts at the moment of contact. Any remark you make is fair game - even if the reporter isn't taking notes, the camera isn't rolling and the tape player isn't recording.
*Watch television "cut-away" shots and post-interview remarks. Until the reporter leaves or hangs up the phone, your comments could be included in the story.
*Avoid "no comment" and "off the record." The former sounds suspicious and weakens your credibility. If you really can not comment (pending court case, confidential information, lack of details), tell the reporter why and assure him/her you will share the information as soon as possible. As for "off the record," there is no such thing. Journalists are not obligated to honor this request. Simply put, if you want to ensure that something remains off the record, don't say it.
* Keep your messages clear and concise. Short, simple words are best. Avoid acronyms, jargon and technical language.
*Repeat your key messages (in different ways) at each available opportunity. Offer a summary or "bottom line" statement at the end of the interview to reaffirm these points.
*Be truthful at all costs - even if it hurts.
*Put personal opinions in proper context if you are representing the university.
*If you need to think about a response before talking, do so. Your silence will not be included in the story. On a related note, respond to the question, then stop talking. Do not be coerced by an awkward silence into saying more than you should.
*Stay within your area of expertise. It is okay to say "I don't know" or "I'm not qualified to answer that."
*Do not lose patience with the reporter, get defensive or trivialize a question. This could reflect negatively on you (and the university) in the final product and will make you a less likely contact for future stories.
*Encourage the reporter to call you back for clarification or follow-up questions, but do not ask to review the story before it is published or broadcast. This is a courtesy that the News Bureau extends to campus sources, but you should not expect it from the media.
*In television interviews, use body language and facial expressions to help sell your message. Maintain direct eye contact with the reporter (not the camera), and lean forward slightly to show interest in the subject matter. It is okay to appear somewhat excited and animated, when appropriate (for example, when sharing positive news about your research, your students, etc.).
Kristi Evans, NMU news director, offers media training for faculty and staff. The sessions cover interview techniques for print and broadcast, media relations etiquette and voluntary mock interviews/critiques. Contact her at firstname.lastname@example.com for more information.


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NEW YORK – BMW is using this week's New York Auto Show for the world debut of its new BMW X4. Like its bigger brother, the X6, the X4 doesn't fall neatly into any existing category of car. It has the ride height and four doors of a small SUV. However, the sloping roof and rear door are more like a hatchback. On top of all that, BMW labels it a "sports activity coupe." Whatever you call it, the X4 offers the practicality of a small SUV and the luxury of a BMW in a tidy package that doesn't appear as bloated as the larger X6. Naturally, the car is packed with safety features like active cruise control, collision avoidance and lane departure warning systems. The X4 can also be had with nice touches like a bird's-eye view camera system and automated parallel parking. BMWs have always been about performance, and the X4 doesn't disappoint. It features the same potent engines found in the slightly larger X3 SUV. Those engines include a 2-liter four-cylinder engine good for 240 horsepower or a 3-liter inline-six-cylinder engine with 300 horsepower. Both engine choices have twin turbochargers for extra power.
The new SUV/coupe/hatchback will be built at BMW's factory in Spartanburg, S.C. and will show up in BMW dealerships this spring. Four-cylinder models will start under $46,000, while six-cylinder models start at nearly $49,000.


text: Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson: The Titans Behind 'The Adventures of Tintin' 11:41 AM PDT 10/19/2011 by Stephen Galloway FACEBOOK TWITTER EMAIL ME Joe Pugliese In an exclusive interview in Paris, Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson reveal the secrets behind their first-time working relationship and the ambitious $140 million project, The Adventures of Tintin, that brings a beloved comics character to the big screen. READ: 'The Adventures of Tintin' Exclusive: Steven Spielberg, Peter Jackson On the Making of the Film (Video) COVER STORY: The Titans Behind 'The Adventures of Tintin' In an exclusive interview in Paris, Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson reveal the secrets behind their first-time working relationship and the ambitious $140 million project that brings a beloved comics character to the big screen. Steven Spielberg first heard the name Tintin 30 years ago when a French critic compared Raiders of the Lost Ark to Belgian artist Herge's comic books about an intrepid young journalist. "I speak very little French, [but] the review kept saying 'Tintin, Tintin' all over, and I asked my assistant, 'Will you get me a translation?' " Spielberg recalls. Intrigued, he began to read the original works about the wide-eyed, boyish reporter and his larger-than-life adventures -- comic-strip books that have sold 350 million copies to date, have been translated into 80 languages and have the sort of vast, cross-generational appeal of today's Harry Potter franchise (except in America, though this movie hopes to change that). Spielberg optioned the rights, and in 1983 he started to develop a Tintin movie with his E.T: The Extra-Terrestrial screenwriter, Melissa Mathison. Then something went wrong. "Much as I loved Melissa's script, I wasn't certain that we had interpreted Herge to a degree that would be palatable for the rabid global fans," he says, "and I got very involved in other movies, so I let the option drop." Years later, he returned to the project. Stunned by the motion-capture work of Peter Jackson's Weta Digital effects house, which raised the bar in The Lord of the Rings movies, in 2004 he asked Jackson to create Tintin's dog Snowy before embarking on an extraordinary collaboration with the Oscar-winning director. PHOTOS: Steven Spielberg's 'The Adventures of Tintin' Unlike Spielberg, Jackson had been familiar with Tintin. Growing up in New Zealand, he discovered the books at the home of a family friend and then plowed through other, untranslated French language volumes at the local library. "I'd pore through these books, trying desperately to follow the stories," he says, never imagining that one day he'd bring them to life. Later, as a young director, "I started to read about Steven doing the Tintin film and was waiting and waiting to see it. Then eventually, six or seven years ago, Steven called me." STORY: 9 Things to Know About 'The Adventures of Tintin' The result is The Adventures of Tintin, which kicks off when Tintin (Jamie Bell) discovers a model ship with a secret that leads him, with Captain Haddock (Andy Serkis) at his side and the villainous Sakharine (Daniel Craig) in pursuit, on a round-the-world quest to find a shipwreck called the Unicorn. A $140 million joint venture between Paramount and Sony, it premieres Oct. 22 in Paris, beginning a European rollout before its Dec. 21 release in North America. It is, says THR film critic Jordan Mintzer, a "kid-friendly thriller that combines state-of-the-art 3D motion-capture techniques with a witty, globe-trotting treasure hunt." (For the complete review, click here) It is Spielberg's closest collaboration with another helmer. While Jackson, 49, nominally produced the film and Spielberg, 64, directed (they'll reverse roles for the sequel), their collaboration went much further, as the men explained during an exclusive interview with THR that took place July 19 at Paris' Le Royal Monceau hotel. [pagebreak] When you first contacted Peter, did you know each other? Steven Spielberg: Well, I had handed him the Oscar statuette for the final Lord of the Rings in front of millions of people -- and that's how we met: on camera. And then we went backstage and spent a little time together. Peter, were you nervous when he called? Peter Jackson: Yeah, obviously a little nervous, but I was excited -- I mean, just to be asked to do something with Tintin and Steven, those two things coming together are pretty cool. And so we did a test for Snowy … Spielberg: Which surprised me because Peter didn't tell me anything except they were going to show us that they could make Snowy interact with humans, and when I saw the [film] tests, all of a sudden [the character of ] Captain Haddock [appeared] in full [costume], and it was Peter [playing the Captain]! Jackson: It was very embarrassing. Spielberg: It was great! I wasn't ready to hire Snowy, but I was ready to hire Peter. He was wonderful, and he came out with a bottle, a little bit tipsy. Jackson: I saw that just the other day, and I'm a little bit of a porker in it, a little bit embarrassing. REVIEW: The Adventures of Tintin: Secret of the Unicorn Why did you turn to Weta in the first place? Spielberg: I was drawn to whoever did the effects on The Lord of the Rings. I just loved what they did. I'm very loyal, of course, to ILM [George Lucas' Industrial Light & Magic], but I had been blown away by the facial capture and thought, "If they can do that, they can maybe do a dog." Did you have to tell George why you weren't going to ILM? Spielberg: He never asked. Peter, you subsequently became hugely more involved. How? Jackson: It was organic. Steven and I started to talk about the idea that it's impossible to cast actors who look like the iconic characters that Herge drew, but you could create these characters in a realistic way using CGI animation. That started with Snowy and kind of grew. Then at some point, Steven asked me if I wanted to be more involved in the movie. Took me two or three seconds to say yes. Back then, you were still thinking of doing it as live action? Spielberg: Yes. But my big fear was if we didn't invite Herge's style into our process, we would be sort of doing Dick Tracy, where Al Pacino had prosthetics on his face and was barely recognizable. Then I would be making a very stylized movie, which I didn't want to do. Did you ever meet Herge? Spielberg: I spoke with him on the telephone in 1983 when I was making Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom in England and he invited me and Kathy Kennedy, my producer, to come to Belgium and meet with him in two weeks' time. And then sadly he passed away before we arrived. VIDEO: New 'Tintin' Trailer Promises Indiana Jones-Style Action What made you go with the three books this film is based on, The Secret of the Unicorn, Red Rackham's Treasure and The Crab With the Golden Claws? Jackson: We were drawn to Unicorn because it's one of the really great stories -- a lot of adventure, a really good mystery and a treasure hunt. But we both felt pretty strongly that we should memorialize the moment that Haddock and Tintin meet. And of course that's in Crab With the Golden Claws. We just made the decision to take elements of all three books and combine them into a sort of three-act structure. And you had the rights to the whole 24-book series? Spielberg: All the books. What kind of approvals did you have to grant Herge's estate? Spielberg: We had to build into our relationship, beyond even just the deal, a series of creative consultations so the estate could look at a character and reject it if they felt it wasn't close enough to Herge. They had to vet all of the characters, especially the main characters. They had consultation rights on the script and gave us great notes. [pagebreak] As you started working, what surprised you about each other? Jackson: I was surprised just how excited [Steven] still is about making films. I guess I thought he'd have a sense of, "Well, I'm doing another film." But he walks onto the set every day like it's the first time he's ever been on one. And on a personal level? Jackson: I recognize in Steven all of the things that drive me: You're making movies because you want to see them. It's hard work, but you're doing it because you want to sit in the cinema one day and look at that finished result. I'm making films for myself, first and foremost, and then you hope that other people around the world are going to want to see it as well. But it's a kind of personal thing. I've obviously lived with the drive to make films, butI thought Steven would be different. Steven, do you still have that same drive? Spielberg: I think the drive has increased with age, actually. Because of a sense of time passing? Spielberg: No. It's that my love and respect for the movies being made today -- that I see so many of -- keeps increasing, and the better the movies I see, and the more inspired I become, the more I want to work. Would you ever consider working in a medium other than film? Spielberg: There's always a first time, isn't there? I would do theater. I mean, my love of working with actors has just increased exponentially, and that would drive me to do a play someday. Jackson: My brain's not wired for theater, I think. I grew up as an only child and spent many happy times imagining stories, and my imagination was always in the form of a movie -- it was like literally a movie running through my head. And as soon as I got hold of a Super-8 camera when I was about 7 or 8, I was able to start experimenting with putting the stories onto film. Steven, what surprised you about Peter? Spielberg: A sense of humor. The Lord of the Rings movies were very sincere and epic and impassioned, but I didn't really appreciate Peter's humor until I sat down with him and realized that he was going to bring a whole layer of humor to this collaboration because he's really funny and laid-back about things. I get rattled, I get a little bit nervous, and Peter doesn't. Peter's steady, and so he's a great counterbalance to me. I'd go running off, trying to figure something out, and Peter would just say: "Patience. We'll sit down, figure this out quietly over a cup of tea." And he always breaks through the roadblock. Do you get nervous about the process? Spielberg: Not nervous so much. I just have a sort of burning energy when I get to the set. You know, I like to make movies quickly, because the faster I make a film, the more I can objectify the experience and see the picture from the center aisle as opposed to waiting for hours and hours and then I have to imagine what the day is going to bring. If I get five shots a day, I lose sight of the entire movie. If I get 25 shots a day, I get to experience what the audience is experiencing in a 12-hour work cycle. STORY: What James Cameron Showed Spielberg and Jackson How did you prepare for that experience when you'd never shot motion-capture before? Spielberg: Our friend Jim Cameron asked me to come over to the Avatar performance-capture "volume" stage near Marina del Rey, where he was capturing all the Na'vis. I watched for a while and Jim let me play with -- you can't even call it a camera, it looks like a game controller, with a little television screen and an X and Y control to move the camera around. When you walk, the camera dollies; when you go forward, the camera moves in. I was able to play around. Then Peter and Weta devised an entirely new system that was the most remarkable I had ever seen. I could actually get in the volume, because as long as I wasn't wearing a motion-capture suit, the cameras didn't see me. I could be right in the volume with the actors, three feet away, which directors never, ever got to do. Jackson: It's an incredible experience to be shooting these movies because you open your eyes and have Andy Serkis or Jamie Bell or Daniel Craig in motion-capture suits in front of you. But when you look at the camera, which has this little screen, you're looking at Tintin or Haddock in their environment because we first had to build the entire world that the story takes place in. It's incredible freedom. You even operated the camera yourself when it came to your 31-day shoot. Spielberg: Because I could just walk around with this light little tool, changing angles constantly. On an average movie, I'll get 25 shots a day, but I was getting 70 to 80 shots a day just running around with this controller. [pagebreak] How much was Peter present during the shoot? Spielberg: Every day he was there on teleconference, on what we called a "polycom" [nicknamed the "Poly Kong" by the cast and crew], sort of a big iChat system. Peter would get up at 3:30 a.m. for our 8 a.m. call from New Zealand to Los Angeles. He could see everything. Jackson: I was on-set in Los Angeles for the first week and got a pipeline running, then I had to go back. But I would get up when it was dark in my jammies still. It's like a fantasy, to film in your pajamas! Spielberg: Once -- it was very funny -- there was a moment where we were rehearsing the actors and Peter had just come down about 4 a.m. his time and I wanted to consult with him about a change in dialogue. And there was Peter on the monitor and I said, "Peter?" And Peter was sort of sitting there, but his eyes were closed. I said, "Peter! Wake up!" And he didn't move. And I got right into the microphone, and I said, "PETER!" -- and Peter just very calmly looked up and said, "Yes?" Jackson: I was deep in thought! Did you turn to him a lot for advice? Spielberg: We collaborated on this one. It's my only experience of having a producer who's mainly a director with me in creative spirit every day, consulting on almost everything. It was like the Coen brothers, I guess. Perhaps that's how they work together. When you're shooting, do you ever feel uncertain or insecure and want to turn to someone else for advice? Spielberg: Of course. All the time. And most of the time I turn to the actors because I get my best ideas from them. What were you most uncertain about here? Spielberg: We kept changing the script all through the shoot. We had an entire subplot we cut out. We shot it to thicken the plot because the plots in all the Herge books are very easy to understand, and we tried to overly complicate them but realized that Herge was right and we were wrong, and we went back to Herge's initial instincts. Do you identify with anyone in the movie? Spielberg: I do. I identify with Tintin. Jackson: I probably identify with Haddock. Spielberg: Well, you played him so well in the test! [pagebreak] You usually edit on film. How did you edit this? Spielberg: This was my first editing on an Avid -- going to the dark side. I also cut War Horse on an Avid. You know, I have maybe 18 Moviolas [editing machines used with film]. They're all museum pieces now. It's a surprisingly old-fashioned way of editing. Do you think of yourself as a traditionalist? Spielberg: I do. I also think, If it was good enough for all my heroes, it's good enough for me. What about you, Peter? Jackson: I think of myself as being relatively old-fashioned and quite traditional. Certainly, as a person I'm like that. Once the edit was in, what happened next? Spielberg: Well, I went on to other projects. I'm not an animator. It takes five hours to animate each frame and there are 24 frames every second, and our film is 93 minutes long. You don't have to do the math to know that wouldn't really include me for a long time. We got re-involved when there were some final shots for approval. Jackson: After Steven had done his first cut, there were chases and a big set-piece with an airplane in a storm that we could never capture on the motion-capture stage. We developed those when Steven was busy doing War Horse, and then after War Horse, we tag-teamed because I got involved in The Hobbit, so it all went back on Steven's lap. Did The Hobbit interfere with this project? Guillermo del Toro was going to direct, then you stepped in at the last minute. Jackson: It didn't really interfere because the timing was good. Before shooting, there was a financial issue with Tintin when Universal backed out late in the game. How much did that throw a wrench in the works? Spielberg: Whatever caused Universal to back out at the last moment, all of a sudden Paramount stepped in with Sony. We had a deal within seven days. You were going to do the first two films back to back? Spielberg: The studios [Sony and Paramount] were willing to do one movie with us and then give us the financial wherewithal to develop a script, do all the visual storyboards and get it really in launch position. So we can launch pretty quickly on a second movie. The script is already written. So Peter, once you've done The Hobbit, you'll go straight to directing Tintin 2? Jackson: Yes. And, Steven, then you'll direct Tintin 3? Spielberg: We haven't talked about that. But I had such a wonderful time working on this; it liberated me as a director because I was able to run around by myself. It was a big collaboration, and at the same time it was one of the most personal experiences I've had. When you can actually hold the camera and create your shots, you don't have a lighting team, a key grip, electricians … Jackson: It's like the old days with Super-8. FACEBOOK TWITTER EMAIL ME Stephen Galloway firstname.lastname@example.com @thr


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Edinburgh in Scotland is an exclusive city, well known for its modern buildings as well as the old Roman structures, gardens, museums, galleries, art, culture, etc. The beautiful architecture and ancient memorials of this historical place symbolize the glorious past. It is also commonly known as the festival city of world, since many events and festivals are celebrated with a lot of zeal throughout the year. This includes the famous Edinburgh international festival, Edinburgh book fair, Edinburg fringe festival, and much more. Hence countless visitors from all parts of the world are attracted to this capital city of Scotland.
There are numerous places to stay in Edinburgh for tourists; however it is better to stay in cheap guest house in Edinburgh to enjoy an affordable holiday. This is due to the fact that hotel accommodation in Edinburgh is relatively expensive. On the other hand, staying in the best bed and breakfast in Edinburgh is much cheaper. Moreover, you also get many facilities which are similar to that available in a hotel.
The luxurious Edinburgh bed & breakfast guest houses are now regularly maintained, periodically painted, and also provide lots of modern amenities that include clean rooms, well-lit passages, airy corridors, gorgeous interiors, classic decoration, phone, fax, intercom, Wi-Fi, broadband internet, TV, radio, AC, fan, hair dryer, shower, large bath tubs, elegant furniture, tea and coffee machine, alarm, etc; You are also offered free laundry service, and free and secured parking facility near the cheap bed and breakfast Edinburgh.
The tariff for staying overnight in a single, double, triple or spacious family rooms in Edinburgh along with free breakfast in the next morning; is very less compared to the costly hotel charges. You can also book a room of your choice in advance by just sending an email or calling an Edinburgh b&b; and confirm your cheap accommodation Edinburgh. You can thus use the money, which you would have otherwise spent in booking an expensive hotel room; for travelling, eating, shopping, entertainment, sight seeing, etc.; and thus make your vacation more comfortable and very economical.
An Edinburgh bed and breakfast is basically a beautiful and modern guest house. They are located in the central district and even spread all over the city. Wherever you stay in Edinburgh, you can easily travel around the city as good transportation service is readily available. In case you are visiting this famous city for the first time, you will get proper guidance and detailed information about Edinburgh from the b&b Edinburgh staff. Thus, you need not spend extra money for a tour guide in order to visit places of tourist attractions, shopping areas, clubs, cafes, etc.
Moreover, every morning the guest house owners individually invite each and every visitor to have hot, fresh, home cooked, healthy and yummy breakfast; that helps to maintain your body energy while touring throughout the day in Edinburgh. Eating this free and best breakfast in Edinburgh in the dining hall, is like a get together where you can mix with everyone; and also experience the local Scottish culture.


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Perot is a mime-like version of Poppy Bros. Jr., and appears in the sub-game Revenge of the King in Kirby Super Star Ultra. It has the same characteristics of a regular Poppy Bros. except it has a higher stamina and is also a lot more violent, attacking a great deal more than the original Poppy Bros. do. Perot still balances on apples and still throws boomerangs and bombs, so naturally it can still supply the Cutter and Bomb abilities. Occasionally, the bomb-throwing type may throw out three bombs at once.
It is unknown if Perot has a "senior" version like Poppy Bros. Jr.s do.
Physical Appearance
Perot, as stated above, has the same body type as a Poppy Bros. Jr.. However Perot wears a form fitting purple garment, yellow shoes, and mime makeup. Perot always sticks his tongue out, has small, pitch black eyes, and wears a small red clown nose.
Perot is a corruption of pierrot, which is a clown in Italian folklore. Perot wear the same makeup that pierrot wears in traditional Italian depictions of him.


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I can't believe what I have done!Taking into account that I have a severe aversion to anything messy and as I have said before,when taking a class that involves any sort of ink, paint or misting my colours are chosen by the bottles which are the cleanest not by the colours I like best. AND that although I own lots of stamps I don't do stamping - I have absolutely amazed myself!
Katherine posted this video onto the ATDML # Create Facebook Page and I was so in awe of the technique that I just had to try it.
So last night when David was out, as he also has an aversion to messy play, I played along with the video.
I don't have gesso and don't even know what it is, so I painted with white acrylic and sprayed and splashed
and stamped
and dribbled ink down my page.
I layered and layered and layered some more and
some layers have 4 pieces of foam tape under them
I loved it and cannot believe how enjoyable it was to do some messy scrapbooking. I know I could have done more inking and dribbling and painting but you have to start with small steps.
Reasons to be cheerful:
1. Katherine for pointing out this video.
2. That David goes out on Thursdays (and Fridays for that matter) so I could make a mess in peace.
3. It's the weekend and I hope yours is as creative as I intend mine to be.


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Join our live RV chat - click HERE
Factoid: Canada is the only Country with the highest number of Canadians.
Is that like saying the Atlantic Ocean is the only ocean with the highest number of Atlantic Cod
And we pack all that into our 3 days of summer (in a good year)
Steve,Just curious - do any Canadian provinces or cities celebrate Bastille Day, or doesn't that qualify as a valid holiday? Milwaukee celebrates it (no, we don't get the day off) even though we don't have a great number of French or French descendants, but then again we sieze any excuse for a party
How long has it been since you were there during summer? Or haven't you been luck to be there those three days?
Saint Swithen's Day (Nobody really knows who he was but hey, who cares?).
We're here every June-Aug so usually catch the day or three of summer. Sometimes we're out of town when it happens, however We're on day 3 of this summer right now. Went from heat pump to A/C virtually overnight. Typical Wisconsin.
while we were in Seattle area they experienced a whole 4 or 5 days of summer
Just spent a week in Ontario
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Someone decided to print a digital photo, and then turn it into a work of art by placing it on canvas. They also applied styles to it to make it look as though it had been painted. If you look at it from a distance, it truly does look like it was painted by hand! Did you know there is software that you can use to make your digital photos look like works of art? It's easy to do, using Snap Art 2.
Quickly start by choosing from hundreds of new styles and ten natural media, such as oil paint, watercolor, and pencil sketch. Then customize anything from brush size to paint thickness to make your signature look. Snap Art's wide range of control lets you make your work completely unique.
The folks at AlienSkin have long been the leader when it comes to PhotoShop plugins – and this is definitely not an exception. Snap Art is an amazing little plugin! There's a color pencil effect, as well as an oil painting one. You can choose to apply pen-and-ink or pencil sketch to your photo, or even make it look like it is a comic strip!
You may think you already have these things built into PhotoShop. But, you can't tweak it to make it perfect. It's just too difficult and limited. AlienSkin makes it simple. You just click the different templates and styles, and let it apply them for you. If you hate it – revert back and do something different.
You won't get as much detail and perfection by using PhotoShop alone. You definitely want to check out Snap Art if you love to mess with photos. What 3rd party filters do you use? I want to see what our audience is into at this point in time. If you use coupon code: CHP0900, you can save 10% off your order through the end of June!
Want to embed this video on your own site, blog, or forum? Use this code or download the video:
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Innovative Micro Technology Inc. (IMT) announced the addition of a new geometry point in its technology roadmap for Through Silicon Vias (TSV). Joining the copper-filled 15 by 60 micron depth TSV configuration that has been in production for nearly two years, IMT has been sampling its 50 by 250 micron copper-filled TSV, which is planned for production shortly after the first of the year.
Enabled to reach new system performance levels, RF applications are taking advantage of shorter signal paths achieved through vertical integration while enjoying negligible insertion loss and resistivity offered by the copper-filled TSVs. TSV integration has propagated into a host of other functions exploiting the benefits of minimized signal loss and the reduction of device footprint, the latter driven primarily by mobile applications. Complemented by wafer- and system-level assembly and packaging, TSVs are a critical element in enabling next-generation 3D integration.
While IMT offers a polysilicon TSV, recent emphasis has been placed on copper due to the material's high performance characteristics. IMT's copper-filled TSV exhibits less than 0.01 ohms of resistance and an insertion loss of 0.01 dB at 6 GHz. Responding to market demand, IMT is continuing development of metal-filled TSVs and plans to introduce TSVs with a 10:1 aspect ratio in the second half of 2011.
"There has been a steady increase in usage of our TSV technology over the last two years, initially driven by our work in the RF market," said John Foster, CEO of IMT. "More recently, interposer applications and markets such as optical and even life science have found it necessary to implement our TSVs as integration is on the rise in both areas. We have a program in production today which implements over 140,000 TSVs on a single wafer. We expect that TSV usage will continue to excel."


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Premium Sweatshirt
Washable at 60 Degrees
50% Polyester 50% Cotton
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Set in Sleeve
Lycra Ribbed Cuffs, Welt & Neck
Twin Needle Stitching at Neck, Shoulders, Armhole & Sleeves
Half Moon at Back Neck
Brushed Effect for Superior Comfort & Look
Products with a logo or other form of personalisation will have a standard turnaround time of approx. 5-7 days. Please see below for details on delivery times once goods have been despatched.
Standard next day delivery to mainland UK, is free for all orders over £100 and just £7.95 if the order total is under £99. Scottish Highlands deliveries will normally takes 2-3 days for delivery, prices available on request.
Deliveries are currently unavailable for the following locations, Northern Ireland, Channel Islands/Isle of Man & outside the UK.
Collections welcome FOC.
An embroidery proof will be e-mailed before any works is started, please email back your confirmation. Once email received back with confirmation we will proceed with embroidering/Printing your garments. Any mistakes found after confirmation can be rectified at your cost.
Once proof approved and garments are embroidered/Printed they can only be returned if sizing is incorrect or discrepancy is found on approved proof.


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Oobleck is THE non-Newtonian fluid of all non-Newtonian fluids. It's solid and liquid, hard and soft, gross and awesome. To make your own solid/liquid, hard/soft, gross/awesome fluid, you will need water and cornstarch. And food coloring, if you're feeling fancy.
I wanted to revisit the spectrum of non-Newtonian fluids that we fiddled with the other day, so we started with a very thin solution of oobleck--two cups of water dyed green with 1/2 cup of cornstarch poured in----and worked our way to a thicker solution by increasing the amount of cornstarch by 1/2 cup:
Sydney was not, overall, a fan of the texture of the oobleck. She actually gagged a couple of times while feeling the thin solution, and though she played a little with the thick solution, she mostly enjoyed just spectating:
Will and I, however, had no problem digging right in:For some reason (very scientific, I know), the cornstarch and water come together in exceptionally large chains of molecules. And so even though oobleck is a liquid, it's harder for the molecule chains to move around each other than it is for small molecule chains--it's crowded on that elevator, ya know? That's why if you move the oobleck slowly or let it rest, the molecule chains have more time to negotiate each other and thus they flow, but if you apply sudden force to the oobleck, the molecule chains just can't get out of your way fast enough, and so the oobleck behaves like a solid.
It makes for a wild sensory experience, let me tell you. You can actually feel the oobleck go from solid to liquid in your hands. You can grab a chunk of it from the bowl, and it's actually an object in your hands, but as you lift it into the air, it relaxes back into a liquid and flows through your fingers back into the bowl: If you smack the oobleck with your hand, it's solid to the touch, but if you rest your hand gently on top of the oobleck, it will gently sink to the bottom of the bowl. Then you try to snatch your hand away--
--and you practically fling the oobleck bowl across the room.
Playing with the oobleck reminded me of when the girls were babies, and just the simple act of scooping water and letting it pour through their fingers was absolutely engrossing. Water was new then, and figuring it out was THRILLING. I really understood that as I, myself, spent close to an hour scooping oobleck and letting it pour through my fingers, absolutely engrossed, absolutely thrilled.
P.S. Interested in more hands-on science? Check out my Craft Knife Facebook page!


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The shock absorber is the central element of the chassis and a safety-relevant component. If it is either defective or if a shock absorber is used that does not correspond with the riding style, this can lead to nasty surprises. Shock absorbers that are too soft can break easily or give you the fright of your life in curves or at high speeds.
A defective shock absorber has a negative impact on the drive comfort and safety. This becomes evident either if the spring only works when it is put under pressure (excessively fast extension), or through obvious traces of fluid loss around the damping rod. To resolve such a problem, a new shocker is necessary.
The Standard shock absorbers correspond with the originals in terms of their stiffness and their appearance. They are supplied with/without springs and with/without covering caps depending on the model.
The CARBONE shock absorbers are made in Italy and convince thanks to their exceptionally high quality. The standard CARBONE are a little stiffer than the original suspension – a top original spare part with a decent appearance at very good value for money. The PASCOLI and NEGRO shocks are a feast for the eyes and the first choice for anyone who wants to restore a Vespa. Similar to the Premium shock absorbers they are very high quality and correspond exactly to the original designs. The ESCORTS are from India, work well and are a bit harder, then the original once.
BAJAJ shock absorbers are economically priced replacement shock absorbers including a M 9 thread. Normally this connection has a M 8 thread so the fixing bolt will also require replacement (Part No. : 20008980) Each type of BAJAJ shock absorber is available with various finishes and styles for both the spring and the body of the unit with either phosphated, zinc plated, painted or chrome plated versions.
HELPFUL HINT: The first prototype Vespa scooters rear suspension consisted of a simple block of rubber. The ride was first improved in 1948 with the inclusion of a separate spring and damper system with the Vespa 125 V1-15T/V30-33/Hoffmann A/B/C/ACMA->70910/VM/VN1T->06000/VU1 models. An integrated spring and damper unit was introduced in 1950 with the Vespa 125 VN1T 06000->/VN2/ACMA 70191->150 VL/VB1/GS 150 VS1-5/T1-T3/VGL1T models.
Conclusion: The shock absorber unit needs replacement during every major service or restoration.
SIP -TIP: Do not forget to order new damping rubbers and extended nut when overhauling your suspension.
SIP Community user ?Thilo? on Part No. 65022100: 'If your suspension is feeling tired or vague and the state of the roads could be better, replace your shockers and everything will be fine!'
OEM Numbers (for the purpose of comparison)
1375714 (PIAGGIO), A9000-O (Mauro Pascoli), 6030.001/2 300 stck abnahme (Carbone )


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J-Mac (Of V.I.P Entertainment) - No Hands Rock / Rap Remix [Label Submitted]
"Waka's single "No Hands" remixed by J-Mac, David Garcia, Filthy Rich, and Lil 1. Produced by BK Productions. Off J-Mac's new mixtape "Live From Ya Baby Mama iPod" http://www.datpiff.com/DJ_J1_J-Mac_Live_From_Ya_Baby_Mama_Ipod.m158114.html Facebook video link: http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/video/video.php?v=770815123377"
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Hang Gliders
2nd Hand Gliders & Gear
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Woody Valley have given a brief description of the new features of the Tenax 4 here: New Tenax 4 Presentation
The new Tenax 4 from Woody Valley is the best looking harness around. We know that performance is more important than looks, but why not combine the two?
A thermo-formed Lexan piece has been added to the front part of the back board for a better shoulder support and the back board is more accessible for any adjustment procedure. The harness has been well thought out with wider pockets which are accessible from the inside. The boot-tip protector is now made of carbon-look thermo-formed Lexan for greater protection. The drogue-chute rollaway pocket offers both deployment systems available. The front zip is sewn directly on to the harness but the final part of the zip, near the foot area, is detachable, allowing the pilot to replace the slider easily if necessary.
The standard harness is delivered with a small buckle to prevent the top zip from coming undone. At Avian we like safety so a very highly recommended option is the addition of two large strong buckles to give added security should the top zip fail. (This option must be chosen at the time of purchase.)
It's also easy to see if these buckles are not done up before taking off.
There are now four trim systems to choose from:
1. Variable integrated 'angle of dangle' system - the classic "Woody Valley" self-stability system proven over many years, with a single-strap hook-in, sliding on a taut rope, all integrated in the back board. (This works but the harness is not very stable in pitch.)
2. Friction system - a system based on the classic Woody Valley system, with an extra friction device fixed on the main attachment (see photo), working on a thin rope that is fixed at the ends of the back board (MR system). This system makes the angle of dangle adjustment easy but the harness more stable in pitch. This system is simple and gives quite a stable harness.
3. Ploner Trim System (PTS) - still based on the classic Woody Valley system of taught rope suspension. The PTS is operated by bending the knees and releasing tension on the rope running from the top of the boot. (See Photo of PTS (Tenax 3 harness back plate)) This allows the pilot to then adjust the angle of dangle before straightening legs again and fixing the harness at the new angle. One nice advantage is that that the PTS system works well even in the back storage container of the harness is full.
4. Internal trim system - a system to change the angle of dangle that can be activated whilst flying using an internal lever. This is sometimes call a 'kick ass' system since you lift the lever with your bottom whilst flying. This system replaces the taut rope with a metal rod to slide on. The mechnism to release the front adjustment line looks a little 'Heath Robinson." However in our experience it works reliably. The grip in the new position is not particularly precise as there is stretch in all the cords etc. This is probably the best system in terms of choosing a angle of dangle position but also the most expensive.
If looked after well your zip will give many years of trouble free service. However if you get sand in it, and don't clean it, wear will be accelerated. In addition if you zip trousers and similar things into your harness concentrate on flying the aircraft and when you have time carefully ease the zip open. Always concentrate on flying.
Some people who have have had to replace zips in the past (expensive) prefer to order a harness with a removable zip held in by Velcro.
The standard zip of the Tenax 3 was sewn into the harness. This does seem to change with time but for the Tenax 4 launch the Velcro zip option is now standard. If a zip is damaged this feature allows quick easy and far cheaper replacement. So this can save a bit of money in the long term.


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Social Media Giants Circle Wagons to Battle Bad Ads
Jun 15, 2012 10:11 AM PT
Social media giants are teaming up with nonprofit website StopBadware to create the Ads Integrity Alliance, which will counter so-called bad ads and work to create trust within the online advertising industry.
Facebook, Google, Twitter, AOL and the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) announced Thursday that the partnership formed with StopBadware will collectively fight malware advertising that leads Internet users to scams, counterfeit goods and malware. The alliance will work to combat nefarious ads by recommending policy initiatives and best practices to policymakers and law enforcement and serving as a platform for spreading word about malware.
StopBadware began as project at the Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University. In 2010, it spun off as a nonprofit organization with industry partners such as Google, Mozilla and Verizon to combat malware and scammers.
Google and Facebook also expressed confidence in the new partnership.
"At Facebook, we strive to create a trusted environment for our users and advertisers," Fred Wolens, Facebook Policy Communications, told the E-Commerce Times. "By joining the Ads Integrity Alliance we hope we can do even more to protect everyone who uses the Internet."
Strength in Numbers
The growing threat of cyberattacks and online scams spread through nefarious ads are a real threat to the world's leading websites, since ads are their primary source of revenue, Ernest Barbaric, a social media strategist, told the E-Commerce Times.
"Bad ads -- leading to scams, malicious or untrustworthy websites -- actually lower the possibility of online ads, in general, being clicked," he said. "And this has a direct impact on the bottom line for all of these companies. So the true reason this is being done is to protect revenue and keep people clicking on ads."
But it's not a problem that can be tackled alone, according to StopBadware. Google alone disabled more than 130 million ads and 800,000 advertisers that violated its policies, according to Eric Davis, the company's global public policy manger. Collectively, he said, the group can have more success in eliminating those ads.
"Each company involved in the Alliance has done a lot of work fighting bad ads and has learned valuable lessons," Maxim Weinstein, executive director of StopBadware, told the E-Commerce Times. "By sharing these lessons with each other and with the industry at large, the alliance will perpetuate policies and practices that are most effective in protecting users."
The alliance will be especially strong with the top talent in the tech industry working together rather than competing, especially when they're working against a threat as strong as spammers, said Nipa Shah, president of Krave Ten.
"Those guys there have geniuses on their teams and when you put all those geniuses together, you can't but wait to see what they'll cook up against the spammers," she told the E-Commerce Times. "The loss of private information, revenue, etc., is a significant threat, so this is the best way for them to get started."
Any Success?
But even with everyone on board, eradicating such a tangled web of malware will be a daunting task, said Shah.
"Unfortunately, the spammers have taken over the Internet and especially the social media sites, so getting ahead of them to come up with a preventative strategy may be extremely difficult, if not impossible," she said.
Even a coordinated team of top talent can't always keep up at hacker pace, either, said Barbaric. In the case of malware, though, he said Google and the other social media giants will pull out all the stops to make sure this alliance can make a significant dent in spam.
"Scammers and hackers always tend to find a way around obstacles, regardless of technology," said Barbaric. "This kind of an initiative will have an impact somewhere, whether it will be the onus of users to prove they are not scammers and have to go through a number of verification steps -- or Google and the gang will take the hit and increase spending on new technology and manpower to make this happen. Someone has to pay."